Planting device and planting structure for plants

ABSTRACT

A planting device which is simple in structure, small in number of components, light in weight, easy to conduct various types of maintenance work, low in material cost, high in construction efficiency, easy to continuously arrange when greening is carried out at a gradient surface, and in particular, high in work efficiency in terms of watering as well as a planting structure in which the planting device is used. 
     The above problem is solved by providing a planting device for plants to be formed mainly on a rooftop or a roof of a building and the like, the planting device for plants comprising a body portion provided with a first fixing means and a second fixing means firmely fixed to a mounting surface of the body portion and linked to the first fixing means, wherein the body portion is provided at the bottom with a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means and also provided at a side wall with a water receiving means, soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls and desired plants (or a desired plant) are planted on the soil as well as a planting structure in which the planting device is used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a planting device for plants and a planting structure in which the device is used.

The present invention relates to a device for cultivating garden trees, flowering plants and other plants easily. In particular, the present invention relates to a planting device mounted for growing plants on a rooftop or a roof of a building and also to a water supplying and draining board for loading soil in this planting device.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a growing number of attempts have been made for planting plants on rooftops of buildings and in other spaces on a large scale to green inorganic spaces in an urban area.

For this purpose, in most cases, a holddown concrete layer is formed on a waterproof layer on a slab surface of building and the like, on which a gravel layer composed of sand, gravel and the like as well as a soil dressing layer are alternately laminated as a planting layer for planting plants.

However, in order to attain water retainability and water drainability enough for plants, a relatively large quantity of sediment must be introduced in a waterproof layer and the concrete layer is also considerably heavy. The combined weight of these two layers affects a building, which is a problem.

The present inventor has already disclosed a planting device which is excellent in water retainability and water drainability as well as which is lightweight (for example, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2531542)

According to the above-described planting device, a waterproof layer is fixed on a slab surface formed on a rooftop of a building and the like, a water retaining member having a nonwoven fabric and the like and a water retaining/supply/draining means composed of a drain panel having recessed parts and projected parts and the like are provided on the upper surface of the waterproof layer, a planting layer composed of a gravel layer and a soil dressing layer is laminated above the water retaining/supply/draining means, and a proper water retainability and drainability is attained by the water retaining/supply/draining means and the like.

Therefore, this device has eliminated the necessity for a concrete layer which is provided for draining, thereby making it possible to establish a planting layer with a necessary minimum thickness, for example, 50 mm, with consideration given to the length of the root hairs of plants, owing to the improvement in water retainability.

The followings are literature related to the present invention.

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application     No2531542 -   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application     No2717632

Accordingly, the above-described conventional planting device achives excellent functions that the weight of the entire device is reduced to avoid an adverse effect on a building. However, it still has several problems which need to be improved.

Namely, the conventional device is complicated in structure and larger in the number of components, thereby raising costs of the device or structure and resulting in poor installation efficiency.

Further, this type of conventional device needs various kinds of maintenance work and such work is extremely difficult due to the absence of a scaffold. For example, watering must be done over the surface of the soil of each of the devices and a uniform spraying water all over the entire soil surface of the device is difficult particularly due to the absence of a scaffold, thereby complicating the work to take a longer time.

Also, in a conventional technology, where a construction surface on which greening is carried out is gradient, the device cannot be formed continuously in a satisfactory manner causing problems in watering in particular. To be more specific, at this type of place, watering must be done at each device, which is much more complicated and difficult due to the gradient comparing to the flat place.

Technology which can solve this drawback has been disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2717632. However, in this technology, fixing the device is complicated to increase the installation costs and also need a longer time in the installation, which is a problem.

The present inventor and the like have been actively engaged in the research and development of a newer planting device and have registered Japanese Patent No. 3280912, Japanese Patent No. 3286753 and Japanese Patent No. 3328583 with regard to such a planting device. However, in the above-described planting device, a drain plate (water retainig/supply/draining means) and a truncated cone-shaped hollow body used as the fixing means are formed integrally and made complicated in shape and larger in size as a whole. Therefore, where resin is used to form a drain panel, it is not easy to manufacture a mold, thereby increasing costs. Further, it is complicated and requires some work to store and transport products.

For solving the above problems, a drain panel and a hollow body are constituted with a separate member. Such an attempt has been made that at first, the hollow body is formed and fixed, the drain panel is then formed through the hollow body at an opening part of the drain panel. There is, however, a difficulty in aligning the one member with the other, resulting in poor work efficiency, which is a problem.

Further, since the above-described conventional hollow body is uniform in height, it is necessary to change the thickness of the soil bed, depending on the installation state of the planting devices. Such necessity is not always met and this poses another problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to solve the above problems by providing a planting device for plants to be formed mainly on a rooftop or a roof of a building and the like, namely, a planting device for plants comprising a body portion provided with a first fixing means and a second fixing means firmely fixed on a mounting surface of the body portion and linked to the first fixing means, wherein the body portion has a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means at the bottom and water receiving means at a side wall, soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls to plant desired plants (or a desired plant) thereon.

Further, the above-described planting device may be constituted in such a way that the first fixing means is set up from the bottom of the body portion and provided at the top with a scaffold for maintenance work.

Further, in any planting device for plants described above, the ribs may be provided on the bottom of the body portion for preventing the movement of soil and reinforcing the body portion used as a cabinet.

Still further, in any planting device for plants described above, a plurality of recessed parts may be formed at a water draining part, a drain hole may be formed on the bottom of the recessed part and between the recessed parts, and the water retaining means may be constituted providing with a water retaining recessed part formed around the first fixing means set up from the bottom of the body portion and a water collecting part adjacent to the water retaining recessed part.

Still further, in any planting device for plants described above, the water receiving means mounted outside a side wall may be provided with a water supply pipe holder and a water receiving hole formed on the side wall for flowing water from the water supply pipe to the water retaining means.

Further, in any planting device for plants described above, a partition plate may be provided on the bottom of the body portion for preventing the movement of soil.

Still further, any planting device for plants described above may be constituted in such a way that the first fixing means mounted at the body portion is formed with a hollow conical body set up from the bottom and fitted into a conical body used as the second fixing means fixed to a building or other bases so as to fix the body portion.

Further, in any planting device for plants described above, a recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted may be provided outside a side wall opposite to a side wall having the water supply pipe holder of the body portion so as to stably provide the continuous arrangement of the body portions adjacent to each other.

In the above-described planting device for plants, a water passing through hole leading water from the water retaining means may be constituted in order to form above the recessed part fitted the water supply pipe holder to flow down the water from the water retaining means at the upper side of the body portion to the pipe holder at the lower side of the adjacent to the body portion when body portions are formed continuously at a gradient part, and to flow the water to the water retaining means at the lower side.

In any planting device for plants described above, the ribs for reinforcement may be provided at an outer periphery of the first fixing means having the scaffold for maintenance work.

The present invention is to solve the above problems also by providing a planting structure for plants to be formed mainly on a rooftop or a roof of a building and the like, the planting structure for plants comprising a body portion provided with the first fixing means, the second fixing means firmely fixed to the mounting surface of the body portion and linked to the first fixing means and the water supply pipe for the body portion, wherein the body portion has a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means at the bottom and provided with a water receiving means from the water supply pipe at the side wall, soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls to plant desired plants (or a desired plant) thereon.

Further, a planting structure for plants described above may be constituted in such a way that the first fixing means is set up from the bottom of the body portion and its top is provided with a scaffold for maintenance work, a plurality of recessed parts are formed at a water draining part, a drain hole is formed on the bottom of the recessed part and between the recessed parts, and the water retaining means is provided with a water retaining recessed part formed around the first fixing means set up from the bottom of the body portion and a water collecting part adjacent to the water retaining recessed part, the water receiving means mounted outside the side wall is provided with a water supply pipe holder and the water receiving hole formed on the side wall for flowing water supplied from the water supply pipe to the water retaining means, the first fixing means is formed with a hollow conical body set up from the bottom and fitted into a conical body used as the second fixing means fixed to a building or other bases so as to fix the body portion.

Further, in a planting device for plants described above, a recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted is provided outside the side wall opposite to the side wall having the water supply pipe holder of the body portion so as to stably provide the continuous arrangement of the body portions adjacent to each other.

Still further, in a planting device for plants described above, a water passing through hole leading water from the water retaining means is formed above the recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted to flow down the water from the water retaining part at the upper side of the body portion to the pipe holder at the lower side of the adjacent to the body portion when body portions are formed continuously at a gradient part, and to flow the water to the water retaining part at the lower side.

The following effects can be obtained by the above constitution of the present invention.

(a) Due to being simple in structure, small in number of components and light in weight, the device or the structure of the present invention can be available at a low cost and increase the construction efficiency.

(b) Due to the fact that a scaffold is provided, various types of maintenance work can be done easily. For example, watering the plants over the surface of soil at each of the devices is not necessary but a uniform watering can be easily done over the soil of all the devices arrayed continuously. Such watering can be done simply by allowing water to pass through a water supply pipe, thereby saving the time.

(c) Where a construction surface on which greening is carried out is gradient, the devices can be easily formed continuously to attain a high efficiency particularly in terms of watering. In other words, in a conventional technology, spraying water must be done at each of the devices even at such a place. However, in the present invention, if watering is done with the device at upward step side, the surplus water continuously flow down to the device at downward step side, thereby providing a proper watering all over the area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the planting device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partially notched cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment in which the planting device S is formed on a gradient part.

FIG. 6 is a partially notched cross sectional view illustrating a connection state of the first fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7) mounted on the body portion (cabinet 1) with the second fixing means firmely fixed to a rooftop base and others of a building structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a planting device is provided with a body portion having a first fixing means and a second fixing means firmely fixed to a mounting surface of the body portion and linked to the first fixing means, the body portion is provided at the bottom with a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means, furthermore, the body portion is also provided at a side wall with a water receiving means, soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls, a water supply pipe is erected at the water receiving means, thereby supplying water to the water retaining means formed at the bottom of the body portion. Soil is filled into the body portion to plant desired plants (or a desired plant) and to cultivate thereon.

The body portion is constituted with a rectangular plastic cabinet, and a recessed part for reinforcement of the strength is formed at the bottom so that the thickness of the plastic is reduced to be light-weighted of the cabinet. Further, a water supply pipe is hooked on at the outside of one of the four side walls constituting the cabinet, and a water receiving hole is also formed as a water receiving means in which water from the water supply pipe flows. Also, the ribs projecting outward are formed for reinforcing the strength of the cabinet at the upper end of the other three side walls.

The first fixing means is set up at the bottom of the cabinet, around which a water retaining recessed part is formed to allow water to stay in, and a water collecting part having gradient paths is formed in contact with the water retaining recessed part. A water retaining means is constituted with the water retaining recessed part and the water collecting part, a water draining means is provided on both sides of the water retaining part. The partition ribs for preventing the movement of partitions and soil for reinforcement are formed on between the water retaining means and the water draining means, and such the partition ribs are also formed on the water draining means.

The first fixing means set up at the bottom of the cabinet used as a body portion is formed with an approximately truncated cone-shaped hollow body and fitted into another truncated cone-shaped hollow body firmely fixed to a base and used as a second fixing means, thereby the cabinet is fixed to the base. A scaffold for maintenance work is provided at the top of the truncated cone-shaped hollow body used as the first fixing means, and the ribs for reinforcing the scaffold are formed at an outer periphery of the truncated conical body. Also, as described above, a plurality of recessed parts are formed at the water draining part, and a drain hole is formed on the bottom surface of the recessed part and between each of the recessed parts.

Further, in any one of planting devices for plants so far described above, a recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted is provided at the outside of a side wall opposite to the side wall having the water supply pipe holder of the body portion so as to stably provide the continuous arrangement of the body portions adjacent to each other In the above-described planting devices for plants, where they are formed on a gradient part, surplus water flowing from the device at the upward step side will move smoothly to the device at the downward step side. To be more specific, the water retaining recessed part at the upper side of the recessed part fitted into the water supply pipe holder and a water passing through hole leading water from the water collecting part are formed so that the water can flow down from the water retaining means at the upper side of the body portion to the pipe holder at the lower side of the adjacent to the body portion and the water can flow into the water retaining recessed part of the water retaining means at the lower side.

Hereinafter, an explanation will be made for embodiments of the present invention by referring to drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are respectively a perspective view and a plan view illustrating one embodiment of a planting device related to the present invention. Further, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are respectively a cross sectional view taken along line A-A and a cross sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2.

In these drawings, S denotes a planting device for plants to be formed on a rooftop or a roof of a building and the like: This planting device S (provided with a first fixing means) has a rectangular cabinet 1 opened on the upper surface and having four side walls as a plastic-made body portion. This cabinet 1 is provided with a water draining means 2 and a water retaining means 3 at the bottom. One side wall is provided with a water receiving means 6, soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls to plant desired plants (or a desired plant) thereon.

The water retaining means 3 is constituted with a water retaining recessed part 4 and a pair of water collecting parts 5, 5 adjacent thereto. A truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7 is set up from the bottom of the cabinet 1 used as a first fixing means at the center of the water retaining recessed part 4, and a scaffold for maintenance work to be described later is fixed at the top. The numbers 8, 8 . . . denote ribs for reinforcing the scaffold.

Partition ribs, R, R . . . , are provided at the bottom of the cabinet 1 used as a body portion for preventing the movement of soil and reinforcing the cabinet 1.

A plurality of recessed parts 2 a are formed at the water draining means 2, and a drain hole 2 b is provided at the bottom of the recessed part 2 a and between the individual recessed parts 2 a. Furthermore, the water receiving means 6 formed outside a side wall is provided with a slit 6 b used as a water receiving hole formed on the side wall for flowing water supplied from a water supply pipe holder 6 a and a water supply pipe P to the water retaining means 3.

As described above, the first fixing means is formed with a truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7 set up from the bottom and fitted into another truncated cone-shaped hollow body described later which is fixed to a building or other bases used as a second fixing means, thereby fixing the body portion (cabinet 1).

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a recessed part 9 in which the water supply pipe holder 6 a is fitted is provided outside a side wall opposite to the side wall having the water supply pipe holder 6 a of the body portion (cabinet 1) so as to stably provide the continuous arrangement of the body portions (cabinet 1) adjacent to each other.

FIG. 5 is a partially notched cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment in which the planting device S is formed on a gradient part. As illustrated in FIG. 1, water passing through slits 10, 10 leading water from the water retaining means 3 are formed at the upper recessed part 9 in which the water supply pipe holder 6 a is fitted, and water flow down from the water retaining means 3 at the upper side of the body portion (cabinet 1) to a pipe holder 6 a of the lower side of the adjacent to the body portion (cabinet 1) when body portions are continuously arranged at gradient part, and the water flow to the water retaining means 3 of the lower side of the body portion (1), thereby the treatment of the surplus water by watering effectively being done.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ribs for reinforcement are formed on projecting outward on three side walls excluding the side wall having the water supply pipe holder 6 a at the upper end of the side walls of the cabinet 1.

FIG. 6 is a partially notched cross sectional view illustrating a link state of a first fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7) mounted at the body portion (cabinet 1) with a second fixing means firmely fixed to a rooftop base of a building and the like. The second fixing means is constituted with a truncated cone-shaped hollow body 11, and the first fixing means of the cabinet 1 (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7) is fitted into the second fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 11) firmely fixed to the base to fix the planting device S. Working is only to fit them together, as described above, and can be done quite simply and effectively. A circular opening is formed at the top of the first fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7). The opening is larger in diameter than the top of the second fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 11), by which they are fitted loosely and the fitting work can be done smoothly. Then, a scaffold plate 12 for maintenance work is fixed at the top of the first fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7) by using screws, an adhesive or any other appropriate means. Further, as descried above, reinforcement ribs, 8,8 . . . for supporting and reinforcing the scaffold plate 12 for maintenance work are provided at an outer periphery of the first fixing means (truncated cone-shaped hollow body 7).

In the planting device S, water flow from a water supply pipe P reaches to a water retaining means 3, in paticular, then stays and is stored at a water retaining recessed part 4. The surplus water overflows beyond the partition ribs R and permeates into soil placed on the cabinet 1 to grow plants. Further, the surplus water, which is not retained by the soil, runs down to the water retaining means or the water draining means where it is retained or drained.

The planting devices S related to the previously-described embodiments are formed continuously, for example, on a rooftop base or a gradient roof, lightweight artificial soil or the like is placed, plants are planted, a water supply pipe is formed and linked to a water supply source, thereby constituting a planting structure. As described above, thus-constituted planting structure is provided with a scaffold for maintenance work, thus making it possible to easily conduct various types of work necessary for planting plants or maintaining the planting devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   1: body portion (cabinet) -   2: water draining means -   2 a: recessed part -   2 b: drain hole -   3: water retaining means -   4: water retaining recessed part -   5: water collecting part -   6: water receiving means -   6 a: water supply pipe holder -   6 b: (water receiving) slit -   7: first fixing means -   8: reinforcement rib -   9: recessed part -   10: water passing through slit -   11: second fixing means -   12: scaffold plate for maintenance work -   P: water supply pipe -   R: partition rib 

1. A planting device for plants to be formed mainly on a rooftop or a roof of a building and the like, the planting device for plants comprising a body portion having a first fixing means and a second fixing means fixed to a mounting surface of the body portion and linked to the first fixing means, wherein the body portion has a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means at the bottom thereof and a water receiving means at a side wall, soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side wall to plant desired plants (or a desired plant) thereon.
 2. The planting device for plants of claim 1, wherein the first fixing means is set up from the bottom of the body portion and its top is provided with a scaffold for maintenance work.
 3. The planting device for plants of claim 1, wherein partition ribs are provided on the bottom of the body portion for preventing the movement of soil and reinforcing the body portion used as a cabinet.
 4. The planting device for plants of claim 1, wherein a plurality of recessed parts are formed at a water draining part, a drain hole is formed on the bottom of the recessed part and between the recessed parts, and the water retaining means is provided with a water retaining recessed part formed around the first fixing means set up from the bottom of the body portion and a water collecting part adjacent to the water retaining recessed part.
 5. The planting device for plants of claim 1, wherein the water receiving means mounted outside a side wall is provided with a water supply pipe holder and a water receiving hole formed on the side wall for flowing water supplied from the water supply pipe to the water retaining means.
 6. The planting device for plants of claim 1, wherein the first fixing means mounted at the body portion is formed with a hollow conical body set up from the bottom and fitted into a conical body used as the second fixing means fixed to a building or other bases so as to fix the body portion.
 7. The planting device for plants of claim 5, wherein a recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted is provided outside a side wall opposite to a side wall having the water supply pipe holder of the body portion so as to stably provide the continuous arrangement of the body portions adjacent to each other.
 8. The planting device for plants of claim 7, wherein a water passing through hole leading water from the water retaining means is formed above the recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted to flow down the water from the water retaining means at the upper side of the body portion to the pipe holder at the lower side of the adjacent to the body portion when body portions are formed continuously on a gradient part, and to flow the water to the water retaining means at the lower side.
 9. The planting device for plants of claim 2, wherein ribs for reinforcement are provided at an outer periphery of the first fixing means having the scaffold for maintenance work.
 10. A planting structure for plants to be formed mainly on a rooftop or a roof of a building and others, the planting structure for plants comprising a body portion having a first fixing means, a second fixing means firmly fixed to a mounting surface of the body portion and linked to the first fixing means, and a water supply pipe for the body portion, wherein the body portion has a water draining means, a water retaining means and the first fixing means at the bottom thereof, and provided with a water receiving means from the water supply pipe at the side wall thereof, and soil is filled into a surrounding space enclosed with the side walls to plant desired plants (or a desired plant) thereon.
 11. The planting structure for plants of claim 10, wherein the first fixing means is set up from the bottom of the body portion and its top is provided with a scaffold for maintenance work, a plurality of recessed parts are formed at a water draining part, a drain hole is formed on the bottom of the recessed part and between the recessed parts, and the water retaining means is provided with a water retaining recessed part formed around the first fixing means set up from the bottom of the body portion and a water collecting part adjacent to the water retaining recessed part, the water receiving means mounted outside a side wall is provided with a water supply pipe holder and a water receiving hole formed on the side wall for flowing water supplied from the water supply pipe to the water retaining means, the first fixing means is formed with a hollow conical body set up from the bottom and fitted into a conical body used as a second fixing means fixed to a building or other bases so as to fix the body portion.
 12. A planting structure for plants of claim 11, wherein a recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted is provided outside a side wall opposite to a side wall having the water supply pipe holder of the body portion so as to stably provide the continuous arrangement of the body portions adjacent to each other.
 13. A planting structure for plants of claim 12, wherein a water passing through hole leading water from the water retaining means is formed above the recessed part in which the water supply pipe holder is fitted to flow down the water from the water retaining means at the upper side of the body portion to the pipe holder at the lower side of the adjacent to the body portion when body portions are formed continuously on a gradient part, and to flow the water to the water retaining means at the lower side. 